Thread storage reel



Feb. 17, 1953 R. w. STANLEY THREAD STORAGE REEL.

Filed sept. 8, 1947 INVENTOR. R/CHA RD W. STANLEY HU n* Q UKN N\I.\,.HU z MN E Nv QN A Q o u, E E D E .E E E v e Ww E,\L Tm@ v/Nm/ ww N b u@ Nv Q mm. hm. X, um, C, Q @a latented Fels. 17, 1953 THREAD STORAGE REEL Richard W. Stanley, Drexel Hill, Pa., assigner to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 772,839

12 Claims. (Cl. Z8-71.6)

This invention relates to thread advancing reels for forming a thread store comprising a plurality of spaced turns of thread that are continually advanced in an axial direction along the periphery of the reel. lThe thread may be only stored on the reel or may be subjected to 'fluid treatment on the reel in the manner and for the purposes conventional in the art.

' In thread advancing reels shown in the prior art, particularly where the reels were relatively long compared to their diameters, the reel often comprised a large number of moving parts and during their operation tended to become distorted due to temperature changes and the stresses to which they were subjected as well as to the wear of the parts. Often, as a result, the thread was not advanced at a uniform rate and a uniform spacing between the turns of thread on a reel was not maintained.

This invention has for its principal object, to provide a unitary form of thread advancing reel that overcomes disadvantages and objections found in reels of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary form of thread advancing reel having a high degree of dimensional stability.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a form of thread advancing reel embodying this invention.

` Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the form of thread advancing reel shown in Figure 1, the section being taken on the line A-A in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a fixed thread supporting bar member forming a part of this invention.

This invention may be used for handling yarn, filaments, tow, bands, ribbons and the like as well as thread and the term thread as used above and hereinafter is intended to be inclusive.

'-v The invention in general comprises two circular cage-like members each comprising a plurality or set of longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced thread supporting bars that are mounted to rotate on parallel spaced apart or eccentric axes Within the periphery of each of the cage-like members. The bars making up one cage-like member are positioned between the bars of the other cage-like member. The bars of one cage-like member are xed and restrained from movement in an axial or longitudinal direction while means are provided for positively mov? ing the bars of the other cage-like member in an axial direction to advance the turns of thread wound thereon. The thread supporting bars are so mounted in the cage members that they do not bow out due to the centrifugal force to which they are subjected during operation. Means are also provided to automatically compensate for wear or other dimensional changes of certain parts and to maintain the proper alignment and relation of the parts during operation.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, reference character I0 indicates a hollow stationary shaft on which the reel is revolvably mounted and which serves as a support for the reel structure. As shown at the left of Figure 1 of the drawing, the shaft is xed to the rectangular shaped support block Il by the key i2 and the support block seats in and is prevented from turning by the out board support piece i3. The upper portion 13A of the support piece is removable and serves as a covering member for the support block The other end of the shaft la shown to the right of Figure 1 of the drawing is supported by the spindle supportedl driving nose It through the ball bearing assembly I5.

" The cage-like member having the set of fixed thread supporting bars comprises a plurality ofv longitudinally extending thread supporting bars I6 that are xed at each end to the disklike members Il. The longitudinally extending flange-like portion 5l! of each disk-like member extends into a slot 5l formed in the end of each bar member. The disk-like members are mounted for rotation about the axis of the shaft I0 on the ball bearing assemblies l5 and I8. The bar members are radially supported between their ends by the disk-like member I9 that is mounted on the ball bearing assembly Z to rotate about the axis of the shaft it. If desired a plurality of longitudinally spaced disk-like members and bearing assemblies may be used.

' The bar members I@ as shown are made from a relatively thin strip of resilient metal that may be flexed, shaped to form a thread contacting portion 52 approximately circular cross section and side portions positioned inside by side relation to form a stem-like member 53 that seats in radial slots 54 in the periphery of the disk-like member l5. The thread supporting bars IB before being fixed to the disk-like members Il', as shown in Figure 3, are bowed out or arev arcuate with the portion that contacts the thread concave and the outer extremity of the stem portion convex. When the bar members are assembled the end portions are moved inwardly and the bars are sprung into place with the slots in the ends engaging the flange portion of the disk-like members I1. The bars are supported between their ends by the disk-like member I9. The bars when assembled are straight and always under stress pressing radially inwardly against the disk-like member I9 with a force greater than any centrifugal force to which they would -be subjected during use and thereby resist any centrifugal force encountered during operation that would otherwise cause them to bow out.

The disk members I1 are pressed toward each other by spring means and maintain the thread supporting bars under compression but permit the bars to expand or contract in a longitudinal direction because of wear or temperature changes. The disk-like member I1 and the sealing member clamping plate 46 at the right of the reel'as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing are clamped'between the annular retaining means 2l and the driving nose I4 that engage the outer race of the ball bearing assembly member I5. The lock nut 24 on the end of the shaft I9 serves as a shoulder or abutment for the ball bearing assembly I5. The disk-like member I1 and the sealing member clamping plate 46 at the left of thereel are clamped between the annular retaining means 22 and 23 that engage the ball bearing assembly I8 and are urged to the right toward the other disk-like member by the coil spring 26 mounted on the shaft I0. The spring abutsra shoulder on the support block II that is keyed to slide along the shaft I9 and the support block engages the clamping nut 25 that positively s eats against the end of the shaft I0. The spring 26 exerts its force on the disk-like member I1 at the left ofthe reel through the series of' parts on the shaft I0, namely the collar 21, sleevel21a, ring 28 and the ball bearing assembly- I8: v`This arrangement maintains the relation ofthe bars to the other parts of the reel and preventsuany looseness developing between the diskshand'the bar members without subjecting the bars vto excessive stress.

lneother cage member having the thread supporting bars that are movable in an axial di"-v rection comprises the thread supporting bars 29 thatare made from relatively thin metal to form arounded threadsupporting portion 55 anda at attaching portion 56. The bar members are mounted in pairs by rivets or the like 30 on the yoke pieces SI which are spaced apart along the bar members. The pairs of movable bar members arepositionedrin the reel with a stationary bar member between them and extend through cut outportions in the periphery of the disk-like member I9. The yoke pieces are attached to the endwise slideable bearing shoes 32 by mea-ns of thgscrews 33 and clamp pieces 34. A washer 35 completes the shoe attachmentto the yoke piece. 'lfhedbearing shoesare `mounted to slide longitu d'ballbearing'assemblies 31. Although only two'sets ofbearing shoes and ball bearingl assembly supports are shown it is contemplated that ar greater number of them, longitudinally spaced along the rel, may be used. The under surface of the bearing shoes are concave with the saine radius of curvature as the outer periphf the outer race and when the bearing'shoes af mounted on the bearing race the adjacent "'*pbrtion's'of' adjacent bearing shoes are contact and ser'v as beariii Surfaces and' guid any on the outer races of me iorigiftudiauy means for adjacent shoes. The bearing shoes are each mounted to also slide on the pair of aligning rods 39 that are positioned at their ends in slots in the retaining members 2| and 22 and extend through approximately radial slots in the disk-like member I9 and seal clamping plates 45 that permit eccentric movement; The bearing shoes are held against the outer races of the ball bearing assemblies 31 by the garter springs (39a) that engage the aligning rods. The aligning rods also serve as a drive connection between the movable bars and the retaining member 2l that is clamped to the driving nose I4. The bearing assemblies 31 are mounted on the eccentric bushings 44V xed to the stationary shaft I0. The diameters of the two circular sets of thread supporting bar members are the same with the eccentricity of the sets the same as that of the bushings 44. The bearing shoes of the set at the left end of the reel as shown in Figure 1 ofthe drawing are longer than the bearing shoes of the other set, The cam follower rollers 43 and 43a are rotatably mounted adjacent the ends of each' of said longer bearing shoes and engage the cam face of the cam members 4G and 4I. The cam members are circular and are non-rotatably andl eccentrically mounted on the shaft I0. The ec# centricity of the cam members is thesame as that of the bearing bushings 44 so that the cam rollers that move ina circular path eccentric to the shaft I0 will always be engagement with the cam faces. The cam surfaces'are such that the movable thread supporting bars will be positively moved in one direction when they are projecting beyond the periphery of the other cage` member and will be positively moved'longitudir nally in the other direction when they are within the periphery of the other cage member. The" cam member 4I is muntedto" slide along the shaft I and is urged toward the other Cain rheinber di)y bythe spring means 42; With this ar-l rangement the follower-rollers arealwa'ys in engagement with the carri` faces so that any wear" of the cam faces orV follower rollers is compensated and play or lost motion'is avoided. l

The ball bearing assblis'are heldin spaced apart relation on the stationary shaft I'0` by means of suitablec'llr' members and" spacing sleeves 51. I Y

Sealing means are provided for'prevntingthe entrance of corrosive liquids or vapors to-theijiner part of the reel comprising the sleeve-like members 38 ofY nexible,Y corrosion resistant syrithetic rubber, plastic or other material'. The sleeve members are clamped in fluid tight relation to adjacent parts of the reel within the thread supporting bars. Sleeve-like sealing members are clampedat one end tothe thread bar supporting disk-like members I1by means ofthe annular clamping plates 46. A The sleevelike Imembers are clamped at their other ends between the bearing shoesand the washers on the yoke pieces.

The thread supportingI bars and supporting piecesoutside of the sealing means are of corrosion resistant material or may be coated with corrosion resistant material.

The parts that slidery or rotate on other parts such as the bearing shoes 3-2; retainer disks 2f| and- 22'; may be of self-lubricating oil impregnated bronze. Means are provided for further lubricating' the parts forming bearing surfaces-comprise ing the oil cup 41 by means of which oil may b introduced into theimiiov'v shaftv l' and the on outlets 48 positioned along the shaft adjacent the ends of the eccentric bearings Ml.

In the operation of the embodiment of the invention described, the driving nose member is coupled to a driving member by a screw thread or other suitable coupling means. The driving nose positively rotates the non-reciprocable thread supporting bars through the disk member Il and the reciprocable thread supporting bars through the aligning rods 39. The bars in the two sets move in separate circular paths one eccentric to the other. The reciprocable thread supporting bars comprising one of the cage members are beyond the circular path of the other set of bars for a portion of their revolution and for the rest of their revolution are within the path of the other set of bars. The reciprocable bars are positively moved axially of the reel by the stationary cam members as the bars rotate. The cam surfaces are of such conformation that the reciprocable thread supporting bars are positively moved in the direction it is desired to` advance the thread on the reel when the reciprocable thread supporting bars are outside of the path of movement of the other sets of bars. The reciprocal ybars are positively retracted longitudinally of the reel by the cam members while the reciprocable bar members are inside the path of movement of the other set ci bar members.

The arrangement of the parts of this reel provides a construction that is rigid and is of particular value in relatively long reels. The thread supporting bars are supported intermediate their ends and are under inwardly directed stresses that oppose the stresses induced by centrifugal force. The thread supporting bars are also subjected to longitudinal stresses that prevent their becoming loose during operation and permit changes in length due to temperature changes.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that this was by way of illustration and that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread advancing reel comprising a generally cylindrical cage-like member mounted to rotate about an axis thereof and havingr a plurality of longitudinally extending thread supporting bars of resilient material the end portions of which when not subjected to stress extend radially outwardly along their length, and means pressing said end portions radially inwardly and maintaining said thread supporting bars under stress parallel to the axis of said cage-like member.

2. A thread advancing reel comprising a generally cylindrical cage-like member mounted to rotate about an axis thereof and having a plurality of thread supporting bars of resilient material, the end portions of which when not subjected to stress extend radially outwardly along their length, and means pressing said end portions radially inwardly supporting and maintaining said thread supporting bars under stress parallel to the axis of said cage-like member.

3. A thread advancing reel comprising a generally cylindrical cage-like member mounted to rotate about an axis thereof and having a plurality of longitudinally extending thread supporting bars of resilient material the end portions of which when not subjected to stress extend radially outwardly along their length, means supporting and pressing said end portions radially inwardly and means positioned between the.;

ends of said thread supporting bars supportingj the bars, said bars being maintained under stress` parallel to the axis of said cage-like member and exerting stresses inwardly against the supporting means positioned between the ends ofA said thread supporting bars.

4. A thread advancing reel comprising a gen-g erally cylindrical cage-like member mounted to rotate about an axis thereof and having a plurality of longitudinally extending thread supporting bars of resilient material the end portions of which when not subjected to stress extend radially outwardly along their lengths, means pressing said end portions radially inwardly andmaintaining said bars under stress parallel to the axis of said cage-like member including compressed resilient means lsubjecting the thread supporting bars to compressive stresses actingv longitudinally of the thread supporting bars.

5. A thread advancing reel comprising a generally cylindrical cage-like member mounted .t0n rotate about an axis thereof having a plurality of longitudinally extending thread supporting, bars of resilient material theend portions of which when not subjected to stress extend radi-- ally outwardly along their length, means pressing said end portions radially inwardly, means positioned between the ends of said threadsupporting bars supporting the bars, said bars being` maintained under stress parallel to theaxis of said cage-like member and exerting stresses in. wardly against said supporting means, and compressed resilient means subjecting .the thread' supporting bars to compressive .stresses acting longitudinally of the thread supporting bars.

6. A thread supporting bar comprising a longi` tudinally extending member of resilient material having a longitudinally extending portion for..l contacting a thread and a stem-like supporting portion, the end portions of the thread supporting bar extending longitudinally and inclined in opposite directions with the thread contacting portion generally concave in a longitudinal direction said thread supporting bar being capable of being iiexed and maintained under stress with the thread contacting portion extending in a straight line.

7. A thread supporting bar comprising a longitudinally extending member of resilient material having a longitudinally extending portion for contacting a thread and a longitudinally extending stem-like supporting portion, the end portions of the thread supporting bar extending longitudinally and inclined in opposite directions with the thread contacting portion generally concave in a longitudinal direction and with the supporting portion generally convex in a longitudinal direction said thread supporting bar being capable of being flexed and maintained under stress with the thread contacting portion extending in a straight line.

8. A thread advancing reel comprising a cagelilre member having a plurality of longitudinally extending thread supporting bars, bearing shoes, positioned in side by side relation, xed to the thread supporting bars, means for supporting said bearing shoes on which said bearing shoes are adapted to slide, said bearing shoes having bearing surfaces that are in engagement with bearing surfaces on adjacent bearing shoes and means for moving said thread supporting bars in a longitudinal direction.

9. A thread advancing reel comprising a cagelke member having a plurality of longitudinally itt'endi'n'g'' threadspportingz bars, .bearing shoes posit'onediin sidebysidefrelationuxed to the'.

thread supportingV bars, means` for supporting said la'earirigw` shoes? on. whichl said `bearing* shoes arei adapted tof slider said'` bearing shoes having.`

le'arir'igl surface's that are? in engagement with bearing surfaces onra'djacent bearing. shoes, meansiextendingthrough said bearing. shoes for aligning and guiding saidv bearing. shoes, and

meansif'orl movingi said.. thread supporting bars andbearing. shoesina: longitudinal direction;

'; Avltlifeadadvancingreel comprising a cagelik: member having.. azplurality of longitudinally extending: thread supporting.y bars, bearing shoes,- positi'oned" ini` side by side relation,.xed to the thre'adlsupporting. barsV means for supporting saidbearing sh'oesi on which said bearing` shoesarel adapted tey slideV means forV retaining. said bearing shoesl on said.. supporting means, said bearingv Shoeshaving bearing surfaces that arey in:v engagementl with.: bearing. surfaces. on adja- Gentil)'rearing'- Shoesglmeans` extending through saidI baringlshoesfor;aligning and guiding said bearing; shoes,. and` means? for moving said thread bearing surfaces that are in engagement withy bearing surfaces on adjacent bearing shoes,

meansrex'tending through said bearing. shoes for' aligning andguiding.- saidy bearing shoes, means for; moving said: thread supporting bars and bearing' shoes' in av longitudinal direction, anddriving'meansengaging they means for.' guiding'.v

and aligning extending through the bearing. shoes for moving said thread supporting bars in a path about an axis of the cage-like member.

12. A thread advancing reel comprising a first cage-like member having a plurality of longitudinally extending. thread supporting bars, means for supporting. the bars, said bars exerting a force inwardly against the supporting means, a second cage-like member having a plurality of longitudinally extending thread supporting bars positioned between the bars of the rst cage-like member, bearing shoes positioned in side-by-side relation. fixed to the thread supporting bars of the second cage-like member, means for supportingv said bearing shoes on which said bearing shoes are adapted to slide, said bearing shoes having bearing surfaces that are in engagement with bearing surfaces on adjacent bearing shoes,

and means for moving. said thread supporting bars of the second cage-like member ina longitudinal direction.

RICHARD W. STANLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patenti UNITED STATES PATENTS 

